Pens-Thrashers In-Game Blog

Track all the action from Pittsburgh's showdown with the Atlanta Thrashers with our live in-game blog. Check back for stat updates, injury reports and other information.

0:00: Time expires and the Penguins drop a 1-0 decision to Atlanta. With the loss, the Devils clinch the Atlantic Division crown. Pittsburgh locks up the No. 4 seed and will host the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the playoffs.

0:10: Pittsburgh wins the faceoff and Gonchar had a great one-time opportunity.

0:13: Another icing on Atlanta but time is running out.

0:23: Hedberg iced the puck and the Penguins take a timeout to go over an attack plan.

0:57: Fedotenko gets called for a delay of game penalty and the Penguins will have to tie this game with a shorthanded try.

1:08: Fleury did a great job as he was skating to the bench for the extra attacker. The Thrashers got the puck and Fleury hustled to get back into the net to avert a chance.

1:43: Pittsburgh successfully kills the penalty. Time is running out for the Penguins.

3:48: Looks like there was some action in the Thrashers' crease. Hedberg went down and Malkin was given a high sticking penalty. The Penguins will have to kill of this penalty and get back to the offense.

4:18: Hedberg freezes the puck and the Penguins will have one final gasp to get a goal and stay in the division race.

7:42: Pittsburgh had a lot of great chances on the doorstep with a loose puck.

11:01: Orpik update, he is OK but his return is questionable.

12:44: Some good passing created a great scoring chance for Atlanta. The puck was loose in the crease, but Fleury was able to find the rubber and cover.

13:17: Talbot has a great chance in atop the crease but Hedberg gloves the puck for the whistle.

15:00: Orpik skates to the bench hunched over in pain and goes to the locker room.

18:49: Staal gets another great chance in front of the net.

20:00: And begin....

SECOND PERIOD STATS
- Kennedy, Malkin and Crosby each have three shots
- Orpik has six hits
- Rupp has 12 PIMs in 2:34 ice time

New Jersey leads NY Islanders 5-0 so it looks like the Penguins will need a win to keep pace in the Atlantic Division.

0:00: Second period concludes. Pittsburgh trails 1-0, but is outshooting Atlanta, 20-13.

0:50: Rupp takes a slashing penalty and Pittsburgh will be shorthanded for the rest of the period.

1:36: Fedotenko had a great chance in front of the net but couldn't get strong wood on the puck to push it towards the net.

4:47: Fleury makes a good pad save on a Bogosian slap shot.

5:43: Update on Slater, who went down early in the first after getting hit with a puck. Slater will not return with a lower body injury.

6:25: Malkin takes a cross check and negates the power play.

7:38: Hainsy goes to the box and the Penguins will go on the power play.

7:40: Update on Matt Cooke. He is OK but not returning to the game for precautionary reasons.

8:22: The penalty is expired. Pittsburgh avoids a two-goal deficit. Now they can try to pull even.

10:00: Kane missed a wide-open net from right in front. He rushed the shot and couldn't aim. The puck sailed wide.

10:34: Little finds a loose puck around the crease and, with Fleury down, lifted a shot into the goal. Thrashers 1, Penguins 0.

Adding insult to the goal, the Thrashers will go on the power play.

11:15: Both teams exchange odd-man rushes but neither generates a shot on goal.

12:35: Godard gets his wish as Boulton goes against him. Godard hasn't lost anything in his form as he landed several heavy blows. That fight literally took nearly two minutes. Both players may need a week to rest after that.

15:15: Kennedy gets a great chance from the high slot. He rips a slap shot on net but Hedberg is there to make the save. The Penguins power play expires.

17:08: Penguins go on the power play. Failed on their first two attempts. I feel like they may be due.

18:01: Matt Cooke and Kane dropped the gloves. Kane landed a KO and Cooke hit his head off hte ice hard. The training staff are examining him right now.

GREAT SIGHT!!!! Cooke gets to his feet on his own power and skates himself to the locker room. Great view to see that Cooke is OK enough to leave on his own. Let's hope the best for Cooke.

19:35: The Penguins came close to getting on the board. Hedberg misplayed a puck behind his net and Crosby nearly tucked it into the goal. Bill Guerin had a chance at the open net but a good stick check prevented him from getting an accurate shot.

20:00: And begin....

SECOND PERIOD

FIRST PERIOD STATS- Brooks Orpik has four hits in the first period
- The Penguins had seven shots blocked
- Kris Letang had a team-best 7:29

0:00: The period comes to an end at 0-0. Penguins lead in shots, 9-4.

1:30: Staal made a great power move around a Thrasher to get a chance right atop the crease but Hedberg poked the puck away.

3:03: The Penguins are forced to kill a penalty as Godard and Rupp were both penalized in a scrum after the whistle with Kane. The three are in the box with a two-minute man-advantage for Atlanta.

Lots of Penguins fans at Philips Arena, and they are making their presence known.

3:53: Mike Rupp had a great opportunity coming down the near wing. He put a slap shot on the net and Hedberg consumed the rubber.

5:40: Cooke had a great opportunity with a vacant net on a rebound. However the puck puck was on his backhand and moving to quickly for him to settle it down.

7:12: THere was a temporary delay as the ice crew had to fix a divet in the ice.

10:45: Eric Godard was back in the lineup and he made sure everyone knew about it. Godard desperately was trying to fight anyone in a blue sweater as he instigated with the entire team. But no one on the Thrashers team were interested in dropping the gloves.

13:03: The penalty expires but Pittsburgh generated a few good chances. Thrashers Slater was hurt after blocking a shot and stayed on the ice for nearly 10 seconds before fighting back to his feet and helping Atlanta clear the puck.

15:42: Evander Kane had a great chance coming down the far side, but Fleury stood tall to keep it out of the net. Pittsburgh will go on a power play with an interference call.

16:16: Good action to start. There was a loose puck in front of Fleury but he was able to poke the puck out of danger. Sidney Crosby created a good chance for Gonchar, who ripped a one-timer that Hedberg turned aside.

18:38: Jordan Staal ripped a shot off the post with Johan Hedberg down on the ice. Staal needs one point to set a new career high at 50.

7:00: The Penguins finish up the 2009-10 season with back-to-back road contests, starting tonight in Atlanta. Pittsburgh is locked in a tie with New Jersey for the Atlantic Division crown, though the Devils currently have the tie-breaker advantage. New Jersey is in Long Island to play the Islanders. I'll keep you posted on that game as well.